The 2025 Asian Aquatics Championships opened to a wave of excitement at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex as India’s swimmers delivered an encouraging set of performances in the morning heats of Day 1.
With over 1,100 athletes from 20 nations competing across swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, and open-water disciplines, the home team made a confident statement, qualifying for multiple evening finals in front of an enthusiastic local crowd. The morning session belonged to India’s leading freestyle exponents Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu, who both progressed to the evening finals of the 200m freestyle, setting the tone for the host nation. Srihari, one of India’s most decorated swimmers and the current national record holder in the event (1:48.11), posted a controlled 1:51.09 to qualify as the seventh fastest for the men’s final.
While not approaching his personal best, the performance was enough to keep him in contention for a podium challenge when the medals are decided later tonight. On the women’s side, 15-year-old sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu continued her rapid rise with a superb 2:04.86 effort, advancing as the fourth seed for the final. Her swim was just outside her national record of 2:02.97, and given her recent form, she will head into the evening session as one of India’s best medal prospects.
Dhinidhi’s progression underscores the growing strength of India’s women’s freestyle program, which has been steadily improving over the past few years.
Breaststroke Specialists Step Up
India’s younger generation also showed promise in the demanding 200m breaststroke.
- Danush S clocked 2:18.35 in the men’s heats to secure a spot in the final. His strong back-half swim highlighted his stamina and potential to challenge the region’s best.
- In the women’s event, Thanya Gawri produced a composed swim of 2:41.31 to make the cut, ensuring India will have representation in both men’s and women’s breaststroke finals on opening night.
These results are significant for Indian swimming, where breaststroke has traditionally lagged behind freestyle and backstroke. With Danush and Thanya breaking into continental finals, the morning session hinted at a welcome diversification of India’s medal opportunities.
Butterfly and Backstroke Fireworks
The sprints brought further cheer for the hosts.
In the men’s 100m butterfly, Rohit Rao impressed with a sharp 53.75, while teammate Bikram Singh followed with 54.32, giving India two finalists in one of the most competitive events of the meet. Rohit’s sub-54 swim, in particular, signals his growing maturity on the continental stage. The women’s 100m butterfly also yielded positive results as Astha Choudhury (1:03.84) and Shristi Singh (1:05.94) booked their places in the final.
The double qualification reflects improved depth in India’s women’s butterfly program, which has often struggled for international breakthrough performances.
Backstroke speedsters Rishabh Kumar and Srihari Nataraj produced one of the morning’s closest finishes in the men’s 50m backstroke, clocking 26.14 and 26.16 respectively. Both comfortably advanced to the final, setting up an intriguing evening showdown where Srihari will aim to add another potential medal opportunity to his packed schedule.
India capped a productive morning with a solid performance in the men’s 4x100m medley relay, where the quartet stopped the clock at 3:43.65 to earn a place in the evening final. Relay events have been a focus of India’s recent development plans, and a strong showing tonight would underline the progress being made to close the gap with Asia’s traditional powerhouses in team events.
Evening Finals to Decide First Medals
The opening night finals, scheduled from 6:02 PM IST, promise high drama and potentially historic outcomes for the host nation. All eyes will be on Srihari and Dhinidhi as they attempt to convert morning promise into medals in the 200m freestyle.
With Dhinidhi entering as the fourth seed and Srihari as the seventh, both will need to find another gear to reach the podium, but the energy of a passionate Ahmedabad crowd could provide the edge. Fans can follow all the action live on Doordarshan and the Waves App, ensuring nationwide access to what could be a landmark evening for Indian swimming.
A Landmark Championship for India
The 2025 Asian Aquatics Championships, running from September 28 to October 10, marks a historic moment for Indian aquatic sports. This is the first time the prestigious continental event is being held in India, and the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad has been transformed into a world-class venue for the occasion. Over 1,100 athletes from 20 nations are competing in swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, and open-water events, making it one of the largest aquatics gatherings in Asia outside the Asian Games.
For India, the meet represents more than just medals. It is a showcase of the country’s growing ambition to become a serious force in aquatic sports. The early success in qualifying multiple swimmers for opening-day finals reflects the steady progress made through improved training infrastructure, greater international exposure, and the emergence of young talents like Dhinidhi, Danush, and Rohit. The morning session served as a statement of intent. With finals yet to be contested and ten days of competition ahead, India has already ensured that the home crowd will have plenty to cheer.
If the swimmers can carry their heats momentum into the evening, the opening night of the Asian Aquatics Championships could deliver the perfect start to a historic campaign for Indian swimming.
